O Man, Whosoever Thou Art…

There is a long-told tale of Alexander the Great, who paused, at the age of thirty-two at the tomb of Cyrus the Great⎯Cyrus who had preceded Alexander by some two centuries. Each in his own time had conquered virtually all he could see, and had acquired more than his understanding could encompass. And Alexander, at the tomb of Cyrus, pondered this inscription:

“O man, whosoever thou art, and from whencesoever thou comest (for I know thou wilt come), I am Cyrus, the founder of the Persian empire; do not grudge me this little earth which covers my body.” And it is said that Alexander, who died soon thereafter, was sobered by the shortness of the glory that once was.

We would make no apology for enjoying and appreciating, and even in a measure pursuing the material gifts of life: comforts and conveniences, good food, a solid house and home; the beauty of the earth, the richness of its soil and its resources⎯all this that God has given. All this, if we read rightly, the Lord God intended his children to have and to enjoy, “with prudence and thanksgiving” ⎯provided there is also balance and the good sense to pursue also truth and intelligence and the mental and spiritual intangibles.

The material part of creation is surely an important part in the Creator’s purpose. But however much a man can hold in his hands, there seems to be no limit to what he can hold in his heart⎯no limit to the satisfaction of service; and no price that he can put on good character, good mind, broad understanding; the love of loved ones and the love of learning; appreciation for people; the beauty of a sunset or of clean air; the peace and blessing of a quiet conscience; or the wonderful awareness of being alive, or the assurance of some everlasting certainties.

The Lord God gave man dominion over all the earth, and the quest for things seems proper and appropriate⎯good things⎯and the making of good things much more⎯so long as possessions are not permitted to possess him. But beyond all this⎯surpassing all this⎯is the assurance a man may have within his soul: the assurance that truth and intelligence, and he himself, and loved ones and the love of loved ones, extend beyond time into the endlessness of eternity.